The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) invites unemployed South African graduates to apply for its 24-month Graduate Internship Programme for the 2025–2027 financial years.
Closing date: 21 November 2025
- Walk-in applications close at 16:00
- Online applications close at 00:00 (midnight)
Apply on: sayouth.mobi → search Project 20K
Who can apply: Unemployed South African citizens who have not previously participated in an internship
Equity: Preference to applicants from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and persons living with disabilities, in line with DEL’s Employment Equity Plan
Stipend: ~R7,860.50 per month (unless otherwise stated for specific posts)
What this programme offers
- Paid, structured workplace learning for 24 months
- Placement across Head Office (Pretoria) and all nine provinces
- Exposure to inspection & enforcement, HR, policy & research, organisational development, employee wellness, monitoring & evaluation, and more
- National government experience and mentorship
Minimum eligibility
- South African citizen, unemployed, and never part of an internship before
- Relevant National Diploma (NQF 6) and/or Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7) (see streams below)
- Willing to arrange own accommodation/transport if placed outside area of residence
- Able to undergo verifications, pre-screening and, where applicable, a pre-entry practical exercise
- Foreign qualifications: submit SAQA evaluation when requested
Internship streams, qualifications & refs (high-level)
1) Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) — ≈ 3,385 posts — Stipend: R7,860.50
Refs per province:
- EC OHS/P20K/EC (X681) | FS …/FS (X153) | GP …/GP (X398) | KZN …/KZN (X963)
- LP …/LP (X108) | MP …/MP (X254) | NC …/NC (X102) | NW …/NW (X214) | WC …/WC (X526)
Qualifications: Environmental Health/Science; Mechanical/Mechatronics/Electrical/Chemical/Construction-related Engineering; Chemistry; Occupational Health/Hygiene/Analytical Chemistry; Explosives; Mining/Industrial Engineering.
Key duties: Assist with OHS Act inspections, incident investigations, enforcement support, reporting.
2) Basic Conditions of Employment (BCEA) — ≈ 3,197 posts — Stipend: R7,860.50
Refs: EC BCEA/P20K/EC (X724) | FS (X303) | GP (X618) | KZN (X545) | LP (X58) | MP (X232) | NC (X168) | NW (X129) | WC (X420)
Qualifications: Labour Relations, BCom Law, LLB, Labour/Commercial Law.
Duties: Compliance inspections under BCEA, Sectoral Determinations and NMWA; investigations; admin support.
3) Employment Equity (EEA) — ≈ 260 posts — Stipend: R7,860.50
Refs: EC EEA/P20K/EC (X29) | FS (X34) | GP (X57) | KZN (X2) | MP (X24) | NC (X5) | NW (X5) | WC (X104)
Qualifications: BCom Law, LLB, Labour/Commercial Law.
Duties: Assist with EEA inspections/investigations; admin support.
4) Employer Audit Services (EAS) — ≈ 1,076 posts — Stipend: R7,860.50
Refs: EC EAS/P20K/EC (X69) | FS (X162) | GP (X99) | KZN (X12) | MP (X40) | NC (X68) | NW (X193) | WC (X433)
Qualifications: BCom Law, LLB, Labour Law, Accounting, Internal Audit/Auditing, Financial Accounting/Management, Cost & Management Accounting, Financial Info Systems, BCompt.
Duties: Compliance monitoring with UIA, COIDA, UICA; investigations; admin support.
5) Head Office placements (Pretoria) — selected examples
- Office of the COO (PME) — Ref HR4/25/CDPE/1HO (X4) — Public Admin/Management, Project Management, Statistics.
- Office of the COO (Operations) — Ref HR4/25/OPS/2HO (X4) — Operations Mgmt, Business/Public Admin.
- Office of the Inspector-General — Ref HR4/25/IES/3HO (X5) — Public Finance/Admin, Business Admin/Mgmt, Local Governance, Financial/Admin Mgmt. (Stipend listed as R7,680.50)
- Office of the DDG: Corporate Services — Ref HR4/25/ODDG/4HO (X2) — Public/Business Admin, Office Management & Technology, Management Assistant.
- Employee Relations (ER) — Head Office HR/25/ER1/HO (X4); Provinces: …/ER/ GP/KZN/EC/WC (X4 each), LP/MP/NW/FS/NC (X2 each) — LLB/Labour Relations/Labour Law.
- Training & Performance Management (TPM) — HO …/TPM/HO (X4); provinces GP/KZN/EC/WC (X4 each), LP/MP/NW/FS/NC (X2 each) — HRM/HRD/Management of Training/Public Mgmt.
- Human Resource Operations (HRO) — HO …/HRO/HO (X10); provinces GP/KZN/EC/WC (X10 each), LP/MP/NW/FS/NC (X8 each) — HRM.
- Organisational Development (OD) — Ref HR/25/P20K/OD/HO (X4) — Management Services, Industrial/Operations/Production Mgmt, I/O Psychology, HRM, Work Study.
- Employee Health & Wellness (EHWP) — HO …/EHWP/HO (X4); provinces GP/KZN/EC/WC (X4 each), LP/MP/NW/FS/NC (X2 each) — Social Work, Psychology, OHS.
- Gender, Disability & Youth (GDY) — HO …/GDY/HO (X4); provinces GP/KZN/EC/WC (X4 each), LP/MP/NW/FS/NC (X2 each) — Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Gender/Youth Studies.
- Policy, Research & Monitoring (PRM) — Ref HR/25/P20K/PRM/HO (X4) — Human Resource Management.
Documents checklist (have these ready)
- NEW Z83, fully completed and signed
- Updated CV
- If shortlisted: Certified copies of ID, Matric, academic record/transcripts, and proof of credits (360/480)
- SAQA evaluation for foreign qualifications
- Correct reference number(s) per application and province
Due to high volumes, if you’re not contacted within 8 weeks after the closing date, consider your application unsuccessful. Correspondence will be with shortlisted candidates only. The Department reserves the right not to make an appointment.
How to apply (Project 20K)
- Go to sayouth.mobi and log in / register.
- Use the search bar and type “Project 20K”.
- Select the Department of Employment and Labour opportunity for your province or Head Office.
- Complete the online application and upload the NEW Z83 and CV.
- NEW Z83 available from www.dpsa.gov.za or www.labour.gov.za.
- Quote the correct reference number for each post.
- If shortlisted, you’ll be asked for certified copies of: ID, Matric certificate, academic record/transcripts, and proof your qualification carries 360/480 credits (SAQA-recognised).
Applications using the old Z83 will not be considered. Submit a separate application for each reference number.
Enquiries
SA Youth Contact Centre: 0800 727 272